Band of Five Attributes (Re-Written)

The air was a bit chillier than normal as the carriage approached a city north of Canterlot, very nearly overshadowed by a plethora of other mountains. As it got closer and closer, the group could make out some kind of pattern in the city’s streets, but what that was they couldn’t make out.

The carriage landed, and the group saw firsthand that the houses and even the ponies themselves who inhabited this place were shimmering like crystals. There were different colors, different sheens, even the streets themselves glittered in the sun. In the center of town was a great big structure standing on four legs, a light blue with hues of pink and violet standing tall as if the obelisk of the entire area.

Heck, the group of five themselves looked duller than the rest of this place--and that said something. There were shop stands and and ponies cleaning the streets; the place was very much alive today.

Nobody could produce words for how amazing or beautiful this place was. It was on par if not better than Canterlot itself. Many of the crystalline ponies stopped and stared briefly at the lot before smiling and waving to them.

Koto looked towards the great big structure in the middle of the town. At last, she spoke. “Should we head to that thing?”

“That is not a thing,” Spoke one of the guards, “that’s the Crystal Castle of the Empire itself.”

“Pretty huge one at that.” Nagare remarked, blinking.

“I say we go there. Look at it, the thing’s impossible to miss.” Rekka stated, beginning to trot to it.

Yuuki glanced around. “Why are the ponies crystallized? Sure, it makes them really pretty and all, but it just baffles me to think even they are shimmering.” She said.

“They’re like this when they’re happy. If they’re sad, their luster fades. It’s a mood indicator, basically.” The other guard answered.

Yuuki thought it over for a moment. “Fair enough.” She said, satisfied she got an answer.

“What’re we waiting for?” Tenmei interjected, pointing a hoof at the Crystal Castle. “Let’s go to the castle already!” With that, he broke out into a gallop towards it, causing his friends to follow in haste.

The trip lasted a good fifteen minutes, and by then, the group of five very nearly had blue faces (or, in Koto’s case, purple.) They struggled to regain their breath, but when it came back to them, they found that the four legs of the castle had stairs leading to upper floors. Once they fully regained their energy, they trotted up one staircase, and found themselves in a hallway lined with windows through which they could look outside.

They trotted down that hallway, finding themselves in a vast room. It was wide open and circular, with large windows here and there. In the center of the room were two spikes, one on floor and the other on the ceiling, and between them slowly spun a crystalline heart of many facets. It was a light blue, sparkling in a light it seemed to radiate from its frame.

If the Crystal Empire was beautiful, then this was the cherry on the sundae.

“I see you’ve arrived.” Spoke a feminine voice. The group of five snapped out of their stupor and jumped, turning around to be greeted by Cadance. However, her body was crystal as well, and her curled mane held up in a swirled bun of sorts. The crystalline feature seemed to further bring out her colors and overall beauty.

Tenmei couldn’t help but drool at the sight. Cadance saw this and chuckled.

Nagare looked at the earth pony, and a grin came on his face. “You have the hots for her? She’s a princess--I don’t see that relationship happening anytime soon.” He remarked.

Tenmei snapped a glare at him in an instant, wiping the drool away with a hoof. “Excuse you?!” He cried.

“I’m married, if that makes you feel any better.” Cadance said, flashing the group a grin.

Nagare burst out into a fit of laughter. He fell onto his stomach, pounding a hoof onto the floor repeatedly as he cackled. He laughed so hard, in fact, he was crying. After his little fit ended, he got up and wiped his happy tears away before looking back at Tenmei. “You had the hots for a MARRIED princess? That’s even worse!” He said, laughing a bit soon after.

Tenmei continued to glare at the pegasus, an eyebrow twitching as he did. “One of these days, my back hoof will find your ass.” He said.

“Not if I’m flying.” Nagare retorted, grinning wryly. He head a valid point on his part--it would be impossible for Tenmei to even fly unless he used a chariot, rode on the back of another pony with wings, or somehow invented a farfetched contraption which would be attached to his body or something.

“Now, now, quit fighting. It’s bad for your health.” Cadance said, catching the attention of the two arguing stallions instantly.

“He starts arguments. I’m not sure why.” Koto sighed, pointing at Nagare for reference.

“He nearly started one with me, and I turned that discussion on its head.” Rekka added, smiling as he remembered how he silenced the pegasus in mere moments.

“What was the argument about?” Cadance asked, brow arched.

“Him calling me out on something he’s also guilty of.” Rekka answered, grin widening as if he were about to tell the entire world what he knew.

“You better not open that trap of yours, you fire ant fondler!” Nagare cried, instantly blushing as he directed his gaze towards the red-maned unicorn.

“Kaguya’s gonna know about it!” Rekka chimed, the biggest grin he could muster plastered on his face.

“And she’s going to know about you and Koto!” Nagare rebutted, his face hardening into a glare.

“Who is arguing and why?” Inquired a voice, causing the two to turn back to Cadance. Standing next to her was Shining Armor, his body as lustrous as that of the pink alicorn.

“It’s nothing, Shiny.” Cadance sighed. “They’re just having one of those moments.”

Shining nodded. “Don’t we all?” He inquired, smiling faintly.

“So, why were we invited here again? It’s a really nice place.” Tenmei stated, looking at the white unicorn.

“Well, I wanted you five to spar with my guards. If you’re as powerful as Celestia said--which I don’t doubt, since I saw a sword grow like a ton--then you should beat them no problem.” Shining said, and this instantly caused Rekka and Tenmei to cringe at the statement.

“Why are you cringing?” Cadance asked as soon as she noticed the movements, tilting her head slightly.

“My weapon...it can cause serious bodily harm.” Rekka answered, cringing further at the mere thought of accidentally shooting someone in the heart or some other vital organ.

“As will mine.” Tenmei added, also cringing at the thought of his bolts doing the same thing.

Shining put a hoof to his chest. “Hmmm…” He hummed, looking up at the ceiling.

“How about this: we magically enchant your weapons to avoid giving ponies unneeded bodily harm?” Cadsnce chimed, causing the two cringing stallions to look at her instantly.

“Could you do the same to the guards, then?” Yuuki asked, brow arched. “It’d be unfair if only we got the enchantment.”

“That I can arrange.” Cadsnce answered, smiling warmly.